Wednesday, August 30, 2006

So long, farewell...

So my colleague with the outspoken opinions on illegal drugs has done the deed and handed in their notice. Not really unexpected, in light of the number of 'chats' they'd had with various senior officers. They jumped (as opposed to being pushed), and seemed rather happy about it. A complete change of scenery awaits them, as they are jetting off to the other side of the world to pursue a different career, and a rather exciting one at that.

So now we're one down, with another (my pregnant colleague) off in a little over a week. Enter contestant number three...

This individual is well-known for their griping, particularly about finishing times. On average at uni we work a 5-6 hour day. Some have come to take this as the norm. Last week the trainers picked up on some of the griping, and had a word with the whole group, reminding us how easy we have it, and warning us not to 'take the piss'. Sadly for this individual, they'd left earlier in the day, without permission. Oh dear.

The following day they got a bollocking from the tutors and a sargeant who was called in to administer proceedings. The individual was so upset they went home straight after the talking-to. I'm not sure if they will change their attitude, and I can see another early exit on the horizon.

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Leaving so soon?

Police work is not for everyone, that's a given. The recruitment process is long and arduous, and should hopefully discourage people who are a bit half-hearted, or are applying because they watch The Bill religiously and think it looks like a right laugh. It should also weed out the psychotics, fantasists and the worthless numpties who would develop a severe case of work-related stress when trying to wrestle with a missing persons report for the fourth time that week. I must give credit to my force's recruiting department. As I look round the classroom I see a bunch of friendly, balanced and professional people, any of whom I'd be proud to have watching my back.

A mate of mine who has been in the job for a couple of years explained to me that there was a drop out rate on any intake. For his intake it ran to around 50% over the two years probation. This is admittedly very high. I've no figures on average drop out rates, but I'm told by some of the trainers that 20%-30% was to be expected under the old training system.

As I'm fortunate to be on the all-new non-residential training course, I am taught in a very different manner to those who went before me. I spend a month at university, being a student (including late starts, early finishes and all the other benefits of 'self-study' time) and then a month on the tutor unit, and so on through the training period. It means I get to see what the job is all about within the first couple of months, and the job gets to see whether I'll make a good copper, rather than the old system of months upon months of classroom training, at great expense, before anyone really knew who could cut it.

Many people who left under the old training system did so because the job was not right for them. Often, the role was not what they had imagined, and they were unhappy. Frequently probationers were deemed unsuitable. Whilst in the first two years of service, a PC is a probationer, and can be dismissed at any time, for any reason, this is known as Regualtion 13. I can see that after a few months in the job one of my colleagues is about to jump. Or they may get pushed.

It's their outspoken attitude to illegal drugs which causes the job some grief, and the job's attitude to personal opinions that is causing my colleague some sleepless nights. It's been suggested to them by various people in authority that maybe they are not really suited to the role, which is a shame, but almost certainly the truth. They are still on the course, but I think it's only a matter of time.

Another colleague has rather unexpectedly become pregnant, which is of course great news, but it means they'll be given some desk job, and all training will cease until their return from maternity leave.

Thus from the original 20 starters, I think we'll soon be down to 18. I can't help wondering who is next...